A regional fiscal year 2016 Chief Petty Officer (CPO) Pinning Ceremony was held Sept. 16, at U.S. Naval War College (NWC) in Newport, Rhode Island. The ceremony officially recognized the promotion of 17 Newport-based CPOs and included remarks from Capt. Dennis Boyer, commander, Naval Station Newport. 150916-N-PX557-030, NEWPORT, R.I. (Sept. 16, 2015)

Senior Enlisted Academy Program Overview

U.S. Naval War College’s Senior Enlisted Academy is a part-resident, part-online program dedicated to developing adaptive, ethical leaders—and preparing them for greater responsibilities. In fact, successfully completing SEA has long been a requirement for promotion to command master chief or chief of the boat and, now, for advancement to E9.

The SEA program lasts 11 weeks, including a three-week residency in Newport, Rhode Island, a one week nonacademic period between phases, and seven weeks of facilitated distance learning before arriving on campus.

The in-residence portion of your SEA experience builds upon what you’ve learned through distance learning. While on campus, you’ll attend seminars, hear from guest speakers, participate in group activities, work on physical conditioning, and, sometimes, take field trips.

Specific lessons include topics such as group dynamics, feedback skills, counseling and mentoring, and impromptu speaking.

Affording SEA

There are four categories of students attending the NAVY SEA. Which category you are in determines who actually pays for your travel. Typically, 80% or more of our students fall into the first category--NAVY TAD.

For U.S. NAVY Active Duty and FTS students attending in a TAD status, the SEA is your funding source. We pay for you to travel to-and-from your Homeport to the SEA. You MUST have an active Defense Travel System (DTS) account, and you MUST have an active, non-expired Government Credit Card to attend. Travel information will be available in Blackboard (Bb) once the course starts so you can complete your DTS Authorization (aka Travel Orders) and Voucher (aka Travel Claim).

Finally, for SELRES students, the SEA does not have any role in generating your orders or funding. Use AT or ADT for your primary funding source from your command. You may use back-to-back orders using both funding types. Check with your OSO to verify. You MUST have approved orders prior to starting Bb, per COMNAVRESFORNOTE 1001.

For SELRES students newly selected to SCPO or who are selected to attend CMC/COB school, ADT-Schools will be authorized by COMNAVRESFORCOM N7.

Eligibility, Enrollment, and Registration

The SEA uses two enrollment methods to fill its classes, targeted enrollment and open enrollment. SEA classes are scheduled by the Fiscal Year, and the upcoming FY Schedule generally becomes available in mid-April. For more information please visit our Registration & Enrollment page.